So there I was out on the open playa taking some black and white photos of the distant art when I was approached by a fellow Burner and instructed to "stop taking pictures"...... Yeah I know what you're thinking. This is an individual thing which has no connection to the greater community and you're probably right. But it did get the rusty gears turning in my head......

There really are more "little generals" coming to the playa in recent years; bravely embarking on their patriotic mission to police those who are enjoying a free expression event the wrong way. Hey, I'm as anti throwing plastic confetti around as the next guy but is this really the place for totalitarian snobbery and mind numbing bureaucracy?

...Followed by a picture of my own asshole so he didn't feel so lonely.....

The vast majority of Burners are obviously quite amazing and easy going. But have you encountered more expert pontificators in recent years? Another example I can recall is this guy telling me that I shouldn't put so many glowsticks on my bike.....

Aren't we forced to comply with enough meaningless rules in life without creating more at Burning Man?

I remember encountering plenty of holier than thou burners back in 2001. I don't know if it's actually increased or not. I suspect how much attitude you get is a bit random and/or based on where you hang out.

oneeyeddick wrote:There was this dude last year that demaded someone else should get off of the top of my MV to make room for him because he was a veteran.

In 2001 I was helping run the cube club (a jazz club on the open playa) which was packed. A party bus drove up and someone got out and asked me if we would kick everyone out so the people on the bus could have a turn watching the band.

Later that night someone came up and asked if he could have a turn playing the piano. I said sure, just wait until the band's set was over and he could talk to the guy currently playing. He designed, help build and fund the amazing club/art piece and I'm not going to kick him off his own piano in the middle of a song. The dude had a hissy fit about how he'd been playing piano on the playa for 5 years and had never had his playing ability questioned before, then walked away in a huff.

It really had to be someone having some fun with the photographer. That would have been my sense of humor out there--although I would have made it clear that I was joking around.

Last year a couple was doing nothing more than kissing along the Esplanade, and I told them that that stuff was not allowed at BM. They knew I was kidding around and the girl returned the favor by grabbing my crotch and asking me, "is this allowed?"!

Then there was a person who was clearly a first timer asked me if he could park by our camp while he looked for a place to set up. I told him it was a tow zone and his car would be gone in 5 minutes. I had to stop him as he started to get in the car to move it and remind him that he was in the middle of the desert and there were no tow trucks around!

There are good ways to deal with people being assholes on the playa. I found that non confrontational ones always work the best. I add humor and a smile, and the asshole usually moves on to the next person to police.

Some people really love having lots of rules. It reminds me of my mother living in her condo complex in Florida. Those old people live for rules and spend their entire life looking for someone that is breaking one of their self imposed policies. "Excuse me, but are you eating a grape? There's no food allowed and I'm reporting you to the condo president!"

it's not burny enough, obviously the OP doesn't get "it", and he's wagging the tail of the dogma and the MAN don't like it.

i bet he even secretly uses two-ply in the Toidies.

the OP must die if this event is to survive. But i mean this in a metaphorical, spiritual and non-physical way, unlike that guy, what is his name, oh yeah, "thingproducer" who was a fanatico, and not associated with BMorg llc, Larry, or Moe, whatsoever.